The Old Testament provides many pictures of Christ. Previous articles have included glimpses of Christ in Adam, Abel, and the Ark built by Noah. This article will consider the portrait of Christ in Abraham.

We learn fascinating aspects of his life from Stephen’s trial as recorded in Acts 7.2-4. Stephen describes Abram’s first encounter with God written in Genesis 11.27-32. The text in Genesis 12 further explains God's call to Abram.

God promised that he would give a kingdom to Abraham. Initially, God described it as a gift of land that he would show to him. In that land, God would make him a great nation. In additional appearances to him, God described the extent of the land and the promise of kings and nations from his offspring (Genesis 15.18-21; 17.6-8).

As God blessed Abraham according to his promises, God gave him a great name. During his era, surrounding kings and peoples revered Abraham. The extent of his household grew to include his own army. To recapture his nephew, taken captive by enemy kings, Abraham led his troops to defeat 5 kings and bring his loved one home.

His flocks and herds grew to a massive size. He became the wealthiest man of his time. Neighboring rulers recognized his greatness and deferred to him. Abraham has held a significant place in Israel’s history, often called Father Abraham.

God's blessings upon Abraham extended to all the nations of the earth. God enlarged his seed into multitudes. God's favor broadened to include blessings upon families other than his physical offspring. Even though Abraham had many sons and daughters, God distinctly chose one of his offspring for good things.

For example, God uniquely blessed Isaac. Again, Isaac had two sons, but one of them, Jacob, received special blessings from God. Jacob had 12 sons, but one of them, Judah, became the one whose offspring included kings and rulers.

God moved Moses to record these events, because they clearly reveal God's character. By sovereign grace, God chose Abraham from idol worship. God could have chosen anyone else, even one of Abraham’s brothers. He chose Abraham by his sovereign free choice.

They disclose God's faithfulness, too. In the Garden in Eden, God had promised a champion to Adam and Eve who would crush the head of the serpent. Ultimately, the promised seed of the woman, the Messiah, came from the seed of Abraham.

Further, Moses’ record established the truth that God's promised salvation by the Messiah would come as a work of God. No work of mankind could produce the Promised One nor the salvation that he would bring.

These events play an important role in the revelation of God's plan of redemption. Before humanity sinned, they enjoyed the manifestation of God's glory upon the earth. Adam and Eve received a command to take that glory to the ends of the earth. They plunged into sin and failed. Their sin interrupted God's plan but did not end it.

From his promise of a champion, he began the progressive revelation of his purpose to redeem sinners back to himself. This plan culminated in the gift of his son, Jesus Christ, the savior of sinners.

Christ's substitutionary death provided the means by which God reconciled sinners to himself. When reconciled, they began to experience God's glorious manifest presence on the earth again and to take it to all peoples. Thereby, God fulfilled his promise to Adam and Eve and Abraham. His seed brought blessing to all the peoples of the earth.

Abraham not only provided the family through whom God would bestow his blessing. He also provided a picture of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Like Abraham, Jesus came through the seed of a woman, Mary.

Many people of Jesus’ era recognized him as their king as did Jesus himself (Matthew 27.11; John 12.13). He, too, owns a kingdom. As king, Jesus presently rules over his kingdom in the lives of multitudes of people throughout the earth (1 Timothy 1.17; 6.15; Revelation 17.14; 19.16).

One day, he will gather his kingdom from every nation, tongue, tribe, and peoples into an everlasting reign as the King of kings in new heaven and new earth (Matthew 28.18-20; Revelation 7.9-10).

Similar to Abraham, Jesus Christ owns a significant name. His name surpasses all other names and titles. In fact, the Bible declares that one day every knee will bow to him in recognition of his supremacy (Philippians 2.9-10).

How do these truths correlate to today? They confirm the character of God. They uncover knowledge of Jesus Christ for people like you and me to understand and believe. They authenticate God's plan of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus Christ fulfills God's plan of redemption as the promised savior to Adam and Eve and as pictured by Abraham, people like you and I must trust Christ and his work on behalf of sinners to redeem us and to reconcile us back to God.